Fall Be Kind is a five-song EP that was released only eleven months following Meriwether. While rooted in the ideas of their previous work, Fall represents the invigorated creativity of a group eager to explore new themes and challenging musical concepts. The result is an avant-garde album that maintains a unique sense of style and listenability.
The second track of the EP “What Would I Want? Sky”, sampling the Grateful Dead Song “Unbroken Chain”, is the highlight of the album. This song represents a triumph for the members of Animal Collective, particularly Avey Tare, who is a life-long admirer of Grateful Dead
The final three songs are more rooted in dreamscapes. “On A Highway”, a song first recorded in 2007 during a recording session for the BBC, is renovated with new instrumentation and enhanced production to create an evocative sense of nocturnal travel.
Animal Collective’s 2009 albums are a poignant addition to their already outstanding discography. While it may be difficult for Animal Collective to match the creativity they expressed during 2009, Fall Be Kind has created optimism for the band’s future endeavors.